NHER 8579 (Monument record) - Original site of a medieval cross west of St Mary's Church (Hemsby, poorly located)

Site of medieval stone cross.

The base of this cross was one of three Hemsby crosses observed by Cozens-Hardy in the 1930s, being the one listed in (S1) as having lain "Beside a cottage on the other site of the road to, and west of, the church…". This cross base had first been discovered by Rev. W. Gibbon at the beginning of the 19th century. He describes it in (S2) as a "...large hewn stone..." lying west to the west of the church, placed "…close against the end wall of a house, near the entrance into the churchyard from that quarter". It lay upside down, its socket being revealed when it was turned. Gibbon noted that whilst it had clearly been moved at some time, it had probably originally stood nearby, perhaps at the road junction immediately to the west of the church. He also argued that the three Hemsby crosses and a possible cross pedestal or boundary stone he had observed east of the church (NHER 8578) may have functioned as sanctuary markers. Cozens-Hardy was however sceptical of this theory, which he describes in (S2) as "…unsupported by any documentary evidence".
Information from (S3).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2020.

It is likely that the cross base observed by Gibbon and Cozens-Hardy is the one that now lies to the east of The Street (NHER 11738), as this was apparently moved to it present location when old cottages opposite The Bell Public House were demolished in 1970.
See NHER 11738 for further details.
E. Rose (NAU), 28 September 1988. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2020.